Clamp



May 25, 1937. V- DI .FGl-*A y 2,081,197-

.CLAMP Filed April 22, 1936 Patented May 25, 1937 UNITED STATES eATENrOFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in clamps.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a clamp designed forthe support of an electric lamp and associated reflector and is of atype that permits portable placement upon a table, desk or other supportas well as clamping engagement with an object, such as a table or deskedge for semipermanent placement against accidental movements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamp of the foregoingcharacter with the clamping plate designed for engagement with surfacespossessing curves or angles and an improved form of latch connectionbetween the clamping plate in the nature of paWl and ratchet devices forholding the clamping plate rigidly engaged with a support. Y

With the above and other objects in View that will become apparent asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists. inthe novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the clamp device having anelectric lamp and reflector associated therewith and illustrated inclamping engagement with the edge of a table top or desk;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View showing a pivotedrack arm on one clamping plate engaged with a rack lug on the otherclamping plate for holding the clamping plate in engagement with asupport that is illustrated by dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2,showing the tensioning spring for the rack lever; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2,showing the loose pivotal mounting for the auxiliary clamp carried byone of the clamping plates. While the clamp is disclosed herein ashaving an electric lamp and reector associated therewith, it is to beunderstood that the clamp may support other articles, the clampcomprising a pair of clamp plates I0 and Il, preferably rectangular inplan View, the pivotal connection between the clamp plates I0 and I Ibeing disposed intermediate the ends thereof and including a U-shapedstrap having the base I2 thereof anchored as at I3 to the clamping plateIl and with the side legs I4 thereof having overlapping engagement withlugs I5 struck out from the clamp plate I0 with a pivot pin I6 extendingthrough the legs and lugs I4 and I5 respectively for the pivotalconnection of the clamp plates I0 and Il.

A pair of bracket arms Il of any preferred design are anchored at theirlower ends as at I8 to the upper face of the clamping plate I0, the 5bracket arms Il rising above the clamping plate and pivotally supportingat their upper ends as at I 9, a lamp socket 20 for the support of anelectric lamp and with which a reflector 2| is associatedF The supportengaging end of the clamping plate l0 has an upwardly directed V-shapeddepression 22 therein that extends transversely of the clamping platewith a felt or pad lining 23 for the depressed and adjacent portion ofthe clamping Plate.

An auxiliary clamp device in the form of a plate 24 is interposedbetween the clamping plates I0 and II and has an angularly directedreturnbent portion 25 at one end that loosely straddles 20 the pivot pinI6 connectingthe two clamping plates I0 and II for cooperation with theV- shaped clamp portion 22 of the clamp plate I0. The clamp device 24has a V-shaped depression 26 and is lined by a felt or pad 21, the apexof 2 the V-shaped depression 26 being engaged with the adjacent face ofthe clamping plate Il. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the clamp device isengaged With the projecting edge 28 of a desk, table or other support29, the pads 23 and 21 protect- 30 ing the surface nishes of thesupporting object against damage by use of the clamp device. The loosepivotal connection between the auxiliary clamp device 24 and the pivotpin 26 between the clamping plates I0 and II permits the clamp 3 deviceto be engaged With supports of diiferent thicknesses, While the V-shapeddepressions in the clamping members permit clamping engagement withsupports of different designs or conguratlons. 40

The devices for holding the support engaging ends of the clampingmembers in engagement With the object include a rack lever 30 pivotallymounted as at 3| upon the lug upstanding from the clamping plate II, therack lever 30 extending through a slotted opening 32 in the clampingplate I0. The rack lever 30 is located at the side of the pivot pin I6opposite the support engaging ends of the clamping plates and is in theform of a blade having rack teeth 33 on the 50 edge thereof facing thepivot pin i6. A rack plate 34 is secured to the under side of theclamping plate I0 and adjacent the slotted opening 32 to be engaged bythe rack teeth 33 on the rack lever 30 and said rack lever is normallytensioned 55 in a direction toward the rack plate. The tensioning meansfor the rack lever 3E) comprises a spring wire loop 215 having one end36 engaged with the plain edge of the rack lever Sli while the other end3l of the spring wire 35 is anchored as at El, the spring wire 35 beingpositioned adjacent the under side of the clamping plate its with thefree end 36 thereof guided in its movement by the arm 38 carried by therack plate 351 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. A finger piece Silprojects from the end of the clamping plate lli and to which the wirespring 3l is anchored. An upstanding wall l0 is carried by the inner endof the clamping plate Ii and is slotted as at il for the passage of theiinger piece 3S carried by the clamping plate Ii. The lower face of theclamping plate Il carries a felt or pad l2 so that the clarnp device maybe portably mounted on a support without injury to the surface thereof.

To place the clamp device in engagement with a support as illustrated inFigures l and 2, the clamping ends thereof are separated by moving therack lever 3@ on its pivot pin 3| against the tension of the wire spring35 and the clamping members 2?. and 2li respectively placed at oppositesides of a support. The iinger piece 3S carried by the clamping plateIE5 is then elevated while downward pressure may be exerted on the upperend of the end wall 56, this movement causing the rack plate 34 toratchet over the teeth 33 of the rack lever sii until the clamp devicestightly grip the support as illustrated. To release the ciamp from thesupport, it is only necessary to move the rack lever 3B on its pivot pin3i whereupon the clamping plates l@ and l i are free to move on theirpivot pin connection i6. The loose pivot mounting for the auxiliary rackplate 26% permits proper cooperation between the clamping elements. forengaging supports of diierent `forms or designs as well as thicknesses.

From the above detailed description of the invention, it is believedthat the construction and use thereof will at once be apparent and whilethere is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as claimed.

1. Means for connecting an adjustable lamp bracket to a supportcomprising a pair of pivotally connected upper and lower clampingplates, a finger piece carried by one end of the upper plate, a wallrising from the corresponding end of the lower plate and having a slottherein through which the finger piece extends and ratchet means carriedby one plate and operatively engaging the other plate for retaining theplates in adjusted clamping position.

2. Means for connecting an adjustable lamp bracket to a supportcomprising a pair of pivotally connected upper and lower clampingplates, a linger piece carried by one end of the upper plate, a wallrising from the corresponding end of the lower plate and having a slottherein through which the iinger piece extends and ratchet means carriedby one plate and operatively engaging the other plate for retaining theplates in adjusted clamping position, including a ratchet lever pivotedto the lower clamping plate and a cooperating rack plate carried by theupper clamping plate.

3. Means for connecting an adjustable lamp bracket to a supportcomprising a pair of pivotally connected upper and lower clampingplates, a finger piece carried by one end of the upper plate, a wallrising from the corresponding end o1" the lower plate and having a slottherein through which ringer piece extends, ratchet means carried by oneplate and operativeiyengaging the other plate ior retaining the platesin adjusted clamping position, including a ratchet lever pivoted to thelower ciamping plate and a cooperating rack plate carried by the upperclamping plate, and a spring carried by the upper clamping plate engagedwith the ratchet lever for normally moving the same towards the rackplate.

4. Means for connecting an adjustable lamp bracket to a supportcomprising a pair of pivotally connected upper and lower clampingplates, a ringer piece carried by one end of the upper plate, a wallrising from the corresponding end of the lower plate and having a slottherein through which the finger piece extends and ratchet means carriedby one plate and operatively engaging the other plate for retaining theplates in adjusted clamping position, including a ratchet lever pivotedto the lower clamping plate and a cooperating rack plate carried by theupper clamping plate, the upper rack plate having a slotted openingtherein through which the ratchet lever projects whereby access may behad to the upper end of the ratchet lever for disengaging the same fromthe rack plate.

5. Means for connecting an adjustable lamp bracket to a supportcomprising a pair of pivotally connected upper and lower clampingplates, a linger piece carried by one end of the upper plate, a wallrising from the corresponding end or the lower plate and having a slottherein through which the finger piece extends, ratchet means carried byone plate and operatively engaging the other plate for retaining theplates in adjusted clamping position, including a ratchet lever pivotedto the lower clamping plate and a cooperating rack plate carried bytheupper clamping plate, a spring carried by the upper clamping plateengaged with the ratchet lever for normally moving the same towards therack plate, the upper rack plate having a slotted opening thereinthrough which the ratchet lever projects whereby access may be had tothe upper end of the ratchet lever for disengaging the same from therack plate.

6. Means for connecting an adjustable lamp bracket to a supportcomprising a pair of pivotally connected clamp plates having controlmeans at corresponding ends with the other ends constituting a clamp forengagement with a support, an auxiliary clamp device interposed betweenthe clamping ends and loosely mounted on the pivotal connection betweenthe plates, the control means including a ratchet lever on one clampingplate and a cooperating rack plate on the other clamping plate.

7. Means for connecting an adjustable lamp bracket to a supportcomprising a pair of pivotally connected clamp plates having controlmeans at corresponding ends with the other ends constituting a clamp forengagement with a support, an auxiliary clamp device interposed betweenthe clamping ends and loosely mounted on the pivotal connection betweenthe plates, the control means including a ratchet lever on one clampingplate, a cooperative rack plate on the other clamping plate, and handgripdevices on the clamping plates for moving the clamping ends intoengagement with a support.

8. Means for connecting an adjustable lamp bracket to a supportcomprising a pair of pivotally connected clamp plates having controlmeans at corresponding yends with the other ends constituting a clampfor engagement with a support, an auxiliary clamp device interposedbetween the clamping ends and loosely mounted on the pivotal connectionbetween the plates, the control means including a ratchet lever on o-neclamping plate, a cooperating rack plate on the other clamping plate,hand grip devices on the clamping plate for moving the clamping endsinto engagement with a support, including a slotted end wall angularlyprojecting from one clamping plate and a finger piece on the clampingplate projecting through the wall slot.

9. Means for connecting an adjustable lamp bracket toa supportcomprising a pair of pivotally connected clamping plates having clampingends, a right-angularly directed slotted wall carried by the other endof one plate and extending across the adjacent end of the other plate, anger piece carried by the last named plate and eX- tending through thewall slot and cooperating with the free end of the wall for operation ofthe clamping ends and a rack and catch connection between the clampingplates.

10. Means for connecting an adjustable lamp bracket to a supportcomprising a pair of pivotally connected clamping plates having clampingends, a right-angularly directed slotted wall carried by the other endof one plate and extending across the adjacent end of the other plate, afinger piece carried by the last named plate .and extending through thewall slot and cooperating with the free end of the wall for operation ofthe clamping ends, a rack and catch connection between the clampingplates, the rack being pivotally mounted on one plate and a spring onthe other plate engaged with the rack for normally moving the sametowards the catch.

VINCENT DI FIGLIA.

